Housing

Safe, stable, and affordable housing is the foundation of healthy, resilient communities. A range of housing choices gives residents real options for where to live and helps communities adapt to changing demographics and economic conditions. Local comprehensive plans are the place to set housing priorities that reflect your community’s vision. Resources here will help you develop the Housing Element of your plan to meet the Metropolitan Land Planning Act and align with the 2050 Housing Policy Plan.

  • Housing Choice & Resilience: Offering a mix of housing types strengthens economic and social resilience while meeting the needs of households across income levels.

Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements are the baseline elements every community must include in their comprehensive plan. They ensure consistency and compliance with state law, and alignment with regional policy. These requirements create a foundation that allows local plans to reflect community priorities while supporting regional goals. For more information about minimum requirements, click here.

Using the table

  • Filter: by community, policy topic area, or explore new/updated requirements for the 2050 planning cycle.
  • Ref No: Each requirement has a unique identifier. Gaps in numbering mean certain regional requirements do not apply to your community.
  • Resources: provides tools, guides, and resources to help meet each requirement. Some requirements may appear more than once if multiple resources are available.

Your complete list of minimum requirements can also be downloaded directly from your Community Page.

 

Going Beyond the Minimum Requirements

Meeting the minimum requirements ensures that a comprehensive plan is complete and compliant, but communities that go further can create plans that are truly transformative. By moving beyond the basics, local governments can reflect local priorities, prepare for future challenges, and enhance the unique character of their communities while advancing equity, resilience, and quality of life for all residents. This section offers resources, advice, and best practices to help communities strengthen their plans and set a course toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant future. 

Strengthen Housing Analysis with Local Data

  • Many communities have more detailed information about their existing housing conditions than needed to meet minimum requirements. Communities are encouraged to include additional information for their existing housing needs analysis if available, including:
    • Historical data on housing needs (for context)
    • How a community’s needs align with the relevant Consolidated Plan
    • School District boundaries within the community
    • The geographic distribution of rental housing costs in the community

Expand the Definition of Housing-Cost Burden

  • Consider using a housing-cost burden that incorporates the cost of transportation to employment opportunities, goods and services (i.e., no more than 30-40% of monthly income spent on housing and transportation).

Encourage Higher Densities

  • Often the minimum densities required are still not adequate to promote land availability for affordable housing. Exceeding the minimum densities, especially in strategic locations such as near transit or where scarce affordable housing is currently available, is encouraged.

Promote Healthy and Accessible Housing Design

  • Incorporate views of nature when possible. A view of nature has been shown to improve overall job satisfaction, reduce number of physical ailments, improve test scores, shorten post-operative hospital stays and decrease use of pain medication. See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 19
  • Consider the needs of the growing elderly population. They may desire smaller housing units, housing without stairs and housing closer to services that increase accessibility. See Minnesota Healthy Planning How-To Guide, p. 33

Develop Innovative and Flexible Housing Strategies

  • The housing element is an opportunity to establish strong policies and guidance that support a more open and stable housing environment. Communities are encouraged to go beyond minimum requirements and create innovative, flexible housing strategies.

Advance Housing Stability and Support Services

  • Use the housing element to refine programs and policies that provide stability for residents who are doubled up, experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness.
  • Consider partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and social service providers that understand and respond to local needs.

Build Resident Opportunity and Well-Being

  • Support social and economic capital in affordable and mixed-income housing through access to job training, education, mental health resources, and social services.

Prevent Displacement and Gentrification

  • Address risks of displacement and gentrification tied to new community investments by using anti-displacement risk assessments. This helps increase transparency, respond to community concerns, and preserve residents’ access to housing, resources, and belonging.

Plan for Affordable Housing Near Opportunity

  • Maximize opportunities to create and preserve affordable housing near transit, amenities, and within transit-oriented development areas. Use partnerships, development tools, and incentives to expand access.

Promote Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience

  • Include policies directing resources for energy efficiency, weatherization, decarbonization, and climate adaptation toward low-income households, affordable housing, and multifamily rental properties to prioritize upgrades for those with the greatest need.